ABS, Hill assist, skid control lights come on in 2011 Subaru Impreza

[bjenovai]

I have a 2011 Subaru Impreza with only about 31,000 miles on it thus far. Just curious if anyone else has experienced the following problem.

 

All of a sudden out of the blue when I am driving, the following 3 lights appear on the dash:

ABS

Hill assist is off

Skid control is off

 

If I turn off the engine and turn the car back on, the 3 lights disappear. This has happened a total of 3 times. 2 of them were in extremely cold below zero weather (I live in Wisconsin) and the 3rd in a temp of about 35 degrees outside driving in a rain/snow mix.

 

My old 2002 Subaru Impreza never gave me problems, but I sold that one to my son 3 years ago---I kinda want that one back. I liked the old one better than my new one.

 

Any thoughts on why the lights appear?

[Fairtax4me]

Battery voltage is getting low. Have the battery and the alternator tested.

[bjenovai]

Thanks Fairtax4me!

 

I had consulted my owner's manual and it made reference to low battery. This is the original factory battery installed with the car brand new. I suspect I am due for replacement.

 

Told the hubby I suspected this---but he likes to use "selective listening" so, it won't get done unless my car dies. In all fairness, this is really because he is too busy concentrating on restoring our 1968 Dodge Charger.

 

My best bet will be to have it done at the dealership!

[Suzam]

The battery maybe getting tired, it really isn't that old, but cold weather with all the accessories being used like the heater fan, heated seats, windshield wipers, headlights and fog lights and window defrosters running in combination can exceed the alternators ability to keep up so the car will draw power from the battery without allowing a charging period.

 

Have a service center test the battery condition, it may only need a charge boost to be back to full capacity.

[nipper]

If it just needs a charge from an external source, there is a problem.

 

Check with the basics, make sure your battery terminals are clean. Then have the battery nad system load tested on the car. 

[Gloyale]

Battery voltage is getting low. Have the battery and the alternator tested.

 

I don't think so.  Those lights are computer controled, Not tied to the charge light circuit like oil, brake lights are.

 

I am thinking you've got a wheel sensor that was clogged with snow and could not recieve it's pulse.

[1 Lucky Texan]

I dunno on an '11 , but a lot of soobs have shown the ABS system to be VERY sensitive to voltage and is often the first hint an alternator is going out.

[Gloyale]

I dunno on an '11 , but a lot of soobs have shown the ABS system to be VERY sensitive to voltage and is often the first hint an alternator is going out.

 

Nah.....

 

This is not a voltage issue. 

 

Not on a 3 year old, 31k mile car.

 

All 3 systems that lit are reliant on Wheel speed sensors.

 

 

 

And none of the other lights that WOULD come on with low voltage did.  What you would see with low voltage is BATT, OIL, and BRAKE lights.

[presslab]

Snow will not affect the ABS wheel sensor as it operates on magnetic reluctance.  Unless the snow bent or broke something, but then it wouldn't work all the time.

 

To the OP, you should be able to pull the ABS code to give you a better idea of what's going wrong.

[Gloyale]

Snow will not affect the ABS wheel sensor as it operates on magnetic reluctance.  Unless the snow bent or broke something, but then it wouldn't work all the time.

 

Youd think that.......but I've seen where enough snow and ice packs in at the back of the hub and throws ABS codes.  Haven't witnessed it on traction control vehichles but same type of sensor.  And all 3 lights that are on are connected in one way........Wheel sensors.